Mobile-Enabled Early Warning Systems
Explore our programme of work that enables the development of efficient and inclusive early warning systems relevant for humanitarian organisations, mobile operators, investors and donors.
Introduction
In today’s connected world, mobile technology is more than a convenience – it’s a lifeline. With 96% of the global population covered by a mobile network, mobile-enabled technologies play a vital role in risk communications including the dissemination of early warning alerts. Mobile operators have played a crucial role in these systems for decades and the GSMA has supported the role of the industry in this area.
Early Warnings for All initiative
In 2022, the UN Secretary-General announced the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative with an ambition for everyone in the world to be protected by an early warning system (EWS). Through the Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation programme, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the GSMA is making a pivotal contribution to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) led Pillar 3 of the initiative – “warning dissemination and communication”. The GSMA Director General also sits on the EW4All High-Level Advisory Panel that assesses the progress of the initiative and monitors technical advancements related to EWS.
Building on years of work advancing the mobile industry’s role in EWS, the M4H programme is now actively supporting EW4All by:
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Convening the mobile industry and enabling multi-sectoral partnerships to develop and implement EWS. Find out more
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Investing in innovative digital solutions for EWS through the GSMA Innovation Fund. Find out more
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Publishing research on mobile-enabled EWS, including on cell broadcast (CB) and enhancing inclusion in risk communications. Find out more
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Providing technical assistance to MNOs and partners developing EWS with a user-based approach.
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Highlighting best practices, including through the GSMA’s MWC and global M360 event series.
Our work in early warning systems
From convening public-private partnerships and providing technical assistance to research and policy work.
Investing in innovation for early warning systems
Catalytic funding and technical assistance have been provided to grantees of the GSMA Innovation Fund to develop innovative and scalable digital solutions and approaches to EWS.
Our partners: Committed to the EW4ALL initiative
To catalyse the life-saving power of mobile in EWS, the GSMA launched an Industry Pledge with the ITU at the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference, COP28. The pledge demonstrates the powerful role of the mobile industry in successful EWS and an industry-wide commitment to realise the ambition of the EW4All initiative.
Want to get involved?
The Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation programme welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with all stakeholders to realise the ambitions of the EW4All initiative.
This material is funded by the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through its Global Research and Technology Development portfolio. The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or positions of the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or its partners.
